Button-feeding mechanism for button-attaching machines.



A C. STENMAN BUTTON FEEDiNG MECHANISM FOR BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINES.

APPLICATiON FILED OCT. 14. 1916.

1,224,972, V Patented May 8, 1917.

AXEL C. STENMA N, OF JAMAICA PLAIN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TC INDEPENDENT BUTTON FASTENER MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

BUTTON-FEEDING MECHANISM FOR IBUTTON-ATTACHING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1917.

Application filed October 14, 1916. Serial No. 125,734.

Jamaica Plain, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-Feeding Mechanism for Button-Attaching Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in button attaching machines and particularly to the button feeding mechanism. The particular button attaching machine involved herein is of the type wherein wire from a coil is threaded through the eyes of the buttons as they are successively fed down a raceway from the button hopper and is then cut into suitable lengths and formed into staple-like fasteners which are carried through and clenched in the material. The

button raceway consists of an inclined chute having a retaining spring at its lower end to support the column of buttons which feed down the chute by gravity. The buttons are positively ejected from the raceway one by one by a spring-controlled feed finger operating in properly timed relation to the staple forming and clenching mechanism. This feed finger is adapted to reach in be tyveen the lowermost button and the one next above of the column of buttons and force the lowermost button past the retaining spring in order that the button next above may descend against the retaining spring ready to be seized and ejected in the next operation of the machine. In order to effect this, the feed finger is given an upward and rearward movement in the plane of the chute and at a certain point in this movement is positively elevated in order to clear the lowermost button in the column of buttons and is then allowed to lower so as to reach in between the lowermost button and the button next above and carry the lowermost button from the chute to the setting mechanism when the operating treadle is released and the finger begins its forward feeding movement.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and efiicient device for elevating the feed finger at the proper moment. In carrying out my invention, I provide the feed finger with a pivoted dog which rides along the stepped bearing face of a guide block and in its travel is swung on its pivot by a fixed abutment on the guide block, thereby raising the feed finger sufficiently to clear the lowermost button in the chute and after passing said abutment, allows the feed finger to descend and reach in between the lowermost button and the button next above and expel said lowermost button in the forward feeding movement of the feed finger.

The construction and operation of my invention is fully disclosed in the specification which follows. In the drawings accompanying the specification I have shown a construction which has been found entirely satisfactory in use. Throughout this specification and drawings like reference characters are correspondingly applied, and in these drawings Figure l is a partial elevation viewed from the left, of the head of a button attaching machine equipped with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are detail views illustrating diagrammatically successive phases of movement of the feed finger as it reaches into the button chute to grasp and eject the lowermost button therein, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a detail elevation and section illustrating the mounting of the elevating device for the feed finger. l

I have indicated 1 Figs. 1 and 2 the table which supports the head 2 and anvil 3 of the button attaching machine. The wire feeding, staple forming and clenching mechanisms and the button feeding mechanism, of which latter I have here shown only the button chute or raceway 4; and the pivoted feed finger 5 are all mounted on the head 2. In the type of machine referred to, all these mechanisms are actuated in properly timed relation by treadle operated mechanism, consisting in part of a treadle rod 6, pivoted at its upper end at 6 to a lever 7 j ournaled in by spaced lateral arms 8 extending from the head 2. The lever 7 through suitable connections operates the button feed, wire feed and staple forming and clenching mecha- IllSIllS.

Only a portion of the connections from the bell crank lever 7 to the feed finger 5 has been shown. These connections comprise a lever 9 pivoted at 10 to one side of the head and actuated by a series of con nected links indicated generally by the numeral 11 from said lever 7 The feed finger 5 itself is pivoted at 12 to the free end of the lever 9 and this pivotjs spring Wrapped in order to insure that the feed finger will be held down over the column of buttons supported in the gravity raceway 4. The free end of this finger is appropriately curved as shown, to fit the cor respondingly curved heads of the buttons in said raceway. The raceway has a retaining spring 13 at its delivery end which supports the column of buttons and allows them to be fed one by one to the clenching mechanism by the feed finger.

Fastened to the feed finger between its ends is a laterally projecting stud 1 1 to the free end of which is loosely pivoted a dog 15 having a flat underneath bearing face terminating in a rounded end 15 The dog is loose on the stud 1 1 to the extent that it may swing through a portion of its are but is prevented from swinging through a complete circle by any suitable device designed to limit the extent of its turning movement. As a convenient form of stop device I have here shown thestud 14 as provided with a stop lug 14 which is received in a slot or recess 14 formed in the hub portion of the dog 15, the free end of the stud itself being reduced as clearly shown in Fig. 7 to re ceive the hub of the dog. long enough to allow the dog to rotate through the required are and this rotation is stopped by the shoulders at the ends of the slot, contacting the lug 1 1- Obviously, however, other means may be provided to limit the rotative movement of the dog. The. dog 15 cooperates with a guide block or plate 16 fastened in the head of the machine and disposed substantially parallel to the raceway. The upper exposed face of the guide plate 16 has substantially the same inclination as that of the raceway and is stepped as indicated at 17 and 18, Figs. 3, 41 and 5, leaving at 19 an elevating shoulder. The bearing face 17 terminates at its lower endin a stop or abutment 20 and the bearing face 18 terminates at its upper end in a stop or abutment 21.

In the operation of the device, the feed finger normally has the position shown in Fig. .3, in which it is disposed in advance of the raceway but in the plane thereof.

When the treadle is depressed, the finger begins its rearward movement back toward the delivery endof the button chute and in this movement the dog 15 traverses the bearing face 17. When the rounded end 15 of said dog reaches the shoulder 19 the button grasping end of said finger is about to enter the: button raceway. It is therefore necessary at this point to elevate the feed finger so that its button engaging end will The slot ll is clearthe lowermost button of the column of buttons supported in said raceway. This is effected by the shoulder 19 and the pivoted dog 15 in the continued-rearward movement of the feed finger. The rounded end of said dog contacts said shoulder and is therebypartially turned on its pivot 14, thus raising the button grasping end of the feed finger above the plane of the buttons in the chute in position to drop down between the lowermost button and the button next above. As the feed linger continues to move back toward the raceway the rounded end of the dog rides over the shoulder 19 and the spring about the pivot 12 of the feed finger snaps the feed finger down substantially into the slot of the raceway between the lowermost button and the button next above, the dog riding along the bearing face 18 and finally stopping against the shoulder 21 of the guide plate. This is the limit of rearward movement of the feed finger and at this point the treadle is depressed to its lowermost position. When the pressure on the operating treadle is removed, its spring, not shown retracts it to original position, releasing the feed finger, and allowing its button grasping end to drop down between the lowermost button and the button next above as the feed finger begins its return feedingmovement toward the anvil, thus carrying said lowermost button out of the chute. In this return movement, the dog 15 rides down the face 18, drops over the shoulder 19, and rides along the face 17 until it stops against the abutment 20 at the lower end of the guide plate. limit of feeding movement of the feed finger. .The buttonhas now been positively fed past the retaining spring in the chute which spring automatically returns to support the column of buttons for the next operation, and the feed finger is again in position to feed another button to attaching p ositi on.

While I have shown and described my invention in its application to a treadleoperated attaching machine, it will of course be understood that my device may be used with a power machine.

Various modifications in the form and construction of my invention may obviously be resorted to within the limits of the ap-.

pended claims. a

hat I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a button chute, a reciprocable lever, a spring controlled feed finger pivoted to said lever, a dog loosely pivoted to said finger, and a guide for said dog having an abutment between its ends adapted to partially reverse said dog during the movement of the feed finger thereby to lift said finger over the lowermost button in said chute.

This is the face and a rounded end, and a guide for said dog having bearing faces disposed in different planes and along which said straight face of the dog is adapted to successively move and having a fixed abutment against which said rounded end of the dog is adapted to contact.

3. A button feeding device for a button attaching machine having a button chute, consisting of a pivoted spring controlled feed finger, a dog pivoted to said finger, and a guide having a stepped surface along which said dog is adapted to travel and including a shoulder adapted to swing said dog on its pivot during a phase of the movement of said feed finger, thereby to lift said feed finger over the lowermost button in said chute.

4. A button feeding device for a button attaching machine having a button chute, consisting of a pivoted spring controlled feed finger, a dog pivoted to said finger, a guide having a stepped surface along'which said dog is adapted to travel and including a shoulder adapted to swing said dog on its pivot during a phase of the movement of said feed finger thereby to lift said feed finger over the lowermost button in said chute, and stops adapted to limit the movement of the feed finger in both directions of its travel.

5. A button feeding device for a button attaching machine having a button chute, consisting of a pivoted spring controlled feed finger, a stud fast on said finger, a dog pivoted on said stud, a guide plate having a stepped surface along which said dog is adapted to travel and including a shoulder adapted to swing said dog on its pivot during a phase of the movement of said feed finger thereby to raise said feed finger over the lowermost button in said chute, and a stop at each end of said stepped surface adapted to limit the movement of the feed finger in both directions of its travel.

6. In combination, a button chute, a reciprocatory lever, a spring-controlled feed finger pivoted thereto, a dog pivoted to said feed finger laterally, thereof, and guide means disposed to one side of the chute and adapted to swing said dog on its pivot during a phase of the movement of the feed Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

finger, thereby to lift said finger over the lowermost button in-said chute.

7. In combination, a button chute, a reciprocable lever, a spring-controlled feed finger pivoted to said lever, a dog pivoted to said feed finger laterally thereof, and an abutment cooperating with said dog to swing the same on its pivot during a phase of movement of the feed finger, thereby to lift said finger over the lowermost button in the chute.

8. In combination, a button chute, a re ciprocable lever; a spring-controlled feed ger pivoted to said lever, a dog pivoted to said feedfinger, and a stepped bearing cooperating with said dog to swing said dog on its pivot during a phase of movement of the feed finger, thereby to lift said feed finger over the lowermost button in the chute.

9. In combination, a button chute, a reciprocable lever, a spring-controlled feed finger pivoted to said lever, a dog pivoted to said finger and having a rounded end, and an abutment cooperating with said rounded end to swing said dog on its pivot during a phase of the movement of said feed finger, thereby to lift said feed finger over the lowermost button in the chute.

10. In combination, a movable feed finger, a dog pivoted to said finger, and a guide for said dog having bearing faces disposed in different planes providing an intermediate shoulder adapted to-swing said dog on its pivot during a phase of movement of the feed finger, to thereby elevate said finger, and having stops near each end adapted to limit the movement of the feed finger in both directions.

11. A button feeding device for a button attaching machine having a button chute and a spring controlled feed finger, comprising a dog pivoted to said finger laterally thereof with its free end disposed to one side of the chute and in a plane substantially parallel therewith, and an abutment beneath said dog and cooperating therewith to swing said dog on its pivot and thereby lift the feed finger during a phase of its movement.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AXEL C. STENMAN.

WVitnesses:

VICTORIA LOWDEN, AeNEs V. OCONNELL.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

